‘Lab on a chip’ micro rheometer to improve viscosity tests dramatically

WASHINGTON – Researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have created a miniature device that can make complex viscosity measurements on sample sizes as small as a few nanoliters.

The NIST rheometer could be a particularly valuable tool for biotechnologists studying minute quantities of complex materials that must function in confined spaces.

Viscosity, elasticity … Read more >>.

Dark silicon GreenDroid chip to boost smartphone battery life, performance

WASHINGTON – Researchers at University of California, San Diego are using “dark silicon” – the underused transistors in modern microprocessors – to improve smartphone efficiency.

Dark silicon refers to the huge swaths of silicon transistors on today’s chips that are underused because there is not enough power to utilize all the transistors at the same time.

The …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Dark silicon GreenDroid chip to boost smartphone battery life, performance.

Oral supplements enhance Botox injection’s effects

WASHINGTON – A new study has revealed that consuming oral dietary supplements four days before receiving Botox injections made the toxin more effective in 93 percent of patients.

Dr. Charles Soparkar at The Methodist Hospital in Houston found that a dietary supplement of organic zinc and the enzyme phytase four days before receiving botulinum toxin injections …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Oral supplements enhance Botox injection’s effects.

Now, a ‘Star Trek’-style medical ‘tricorder’ to diagnose breast cancer

LONDON – A ‘Star Trek’-style medical “tricorder”, developed Brit scientists can diagnose diseases such as breast cancer in minutes.

The hand-held device analyses a patient’s blood, urine or saliva sample to indicate the presence of disease, much like the one used by Dr Leonard “Bones” … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Now, a ‘Star Trek’-style medical ‘tricorder’ to diagnose breast cancer.

The art of making antibiotics is nearly 2000 years old

WASHINGTON – Scientists have discovered green fluorescence in Nubian skeletons indicating a tetracycline-labelled bone, a finding that shows that antibiotics were already in use nearly 2,000 years ago.

A chemical analysis of the bones of ancient Nubians showed they were regularly consuming tetracycline, most … Read : The art of making antibiotics is nearly 2000 years old.

Now, a satellite traffic cop to prevent space collisions

WASHINGTON – Although space collisions are rare, when they do happen, they leave a long-lasting impact. A coalition of satellite traffic cops, however, aims to prevent these episodes from occurring at all.

Tobias Nassif is the vice president of satellite …. Read the original article  : here.

Wonder conductors to keep your laptops and mobiles cooler

LONDON – It’s a common phenomenon for laptops and mobiles to become blisteringly hot after an hour or two of use, but a new wonder conductor could change all that.

In the past five years, physicists Charles Kane and Eugene Mele of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia have …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Wonder conductors to keep your laptops and mobiles cooler.

Bacteria can make gold nuggets

WASHINGTON – In a first of its kind study, Aussie researchers have found that bacterial biofilms can go on to create gold nuggets-a feta that could help prospectors use biosensors to zero-in on where clumps of the precious metal …. Read the original article  : Bacteria can make gold nuggets.

‘God did not create the universe’

LONDON – British physicist Stephen Hawking has said the creation of the universe was a result of the inevitable laws of physics and it did not need God’s help.

In his latest book titled “The Grand Design”, Hawking writes: “Because there is a law such as gravity, the universe can and will create itself from nothing. … Read more : ‘God did not create the universe’.

Images of successful people, not size 0 modes, make women eat less

LONDON – It’s not the much-hyped size zero of models that is behind the rising rates of bulimia and anorexia nervosa among women, but its the images of successful people contribute to such illnesses, regardless of how thin they are.

Studies have shown that media images contribute to the development of eating disorders.

To understand how, … Read : Images of successful people, not size 0 modes, make women eat less.

Brain exercises may be good initially, but speed up dementia later

WASHINGTON – Solving crossword puzzles and reading may do you good initially, but speed up dementia later in life, says a new study.

Researchers from Rush University Medical Center in Chicago said that brain exercises might, at first, slow the decline of thinking skills but speed up dementia later in old age.

Robert S. Wilson said that … Read more >>.

How men and women play soccer differently

WASHINGTON – The significant differences in the knee alignment and muscle activation that exist between men and women also translate into the way they play soccer, says a new study.

Data reveals that males activate certain hip and leg muscles more than females during the motion of the instep and side-foot kicks – the most common …. Original source  : How men and women play soccer differently.

New test top diagnoseTB proves effective, convenient

WASHINGTON – Scientists have come up with a molecular test designed to easily diagnose tuberculosis (TB) and detect a drug-resistant form of the bacterium that causes TB can provide much more specific, sensitive and rapid results than currently available TB diagnostics.

In a test involving 1,730 patients with suspected drug-sensitive or multidrug-resistant pulmonary TB, the Xpert …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Mental distress linked to shorter sleep durations in young adults

WASHINGTON – A new study has suggested that young adults who get fewer than eight hours of sleep per night have greater risks of psychological distress, a combination of high levels of depressive and anxious symptoms.

Using an average self-reported nightly sleep duration of eight to nine [..] Read the original article: here.

‘Forbidden’ black rice could be greatest ’superfood’

SYDNEY – Black rice, regularly used in China but uncommon in the West, could be one of the healthiest foods, say experts.

According to the scientists, the cereal is low in sugar but packed with healthy fibre and plant compounds, which can prevent heart disease and cancer.

Centuries ago it was known as “Forbidden Rice” in ancient … Original article on : ‘Forbidden’ black rice could be greatest ’superfood’.

New drug delivery patch to treat many more ailments sans painful pricks

WASHINGTON – Scientists at Purdue University have developed a new pump for microneedles drug delivery patch to deliver a wider range of medications than now possible with conventional patches.

“There are only a handful of drugs that currently can be administered with patches,” said Babak Ziaie, a professor of electrical and computer engineering and biomedical engineering. … Original article on : New drug delivery patch to treat many more ailments sans painful pricks.

Plane crashes in developing countries 13 times likelier than in US, First World

WASHINGTON – If you were planning to fly in a developing country, the results of this new study might change those plans, for the risk of airplane crashes is 13 times more than that in US and other First World countries.

The more economically advanced countries in the Developing World have better overall safety records than … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Plane crashes in developing countries 13 times likelier than in US, First World.

Texas congressman among dozens of Democrats trying to hang onto conservative districts

Democrats fight to stay in office amid backlash
McGREGOR, Texas – Rep. Chet Edwards, an imperiled Democrat deep in the heart of Republican territory, finds exiting American Legion Post No. 273 slow going. Supporters and well-wishers keep stopping him.
The wife of a World War II veteran hugs him. Several men line up …. Source  : Texas congressman among dozens of Democrats trying to hang onto conservative districts.

Exercise capacity is an inherited trait

WASHINGTON – Voluntary activity, such as daily exercise, is a highly heritable trait that can be passed down genetically to successive generations, according to biologists at the University of California, Riverside.

While working on mice in the lab, they found that activity level can be enhanced with “selective breeding” – the process of breeding plants and …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

New method extracts oxygen from water with minimal energy

WASHINGTON – Chemists have found a simple and inexpensive technique to pull pure oxygen from water using relatively small amounts of electricity, common chemicals and a room-temperature glass of water.

Because oxygen and hydrogen are energy-rich fuels, many researchers have proposed using solar electricity to split water into those elements – a stored energy source for … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : New method extracts oxygen from water with minimal energy.